Pencil sharpener



R. B; FLEMING PENCIL SHARPENER.

Filed June10, 1944 MING NVENTOR.'

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 8, 1946.

Patented Oct. 8, 1946 PENCIL SHARPENER Robert B; Fleming,,Huntington liark, Calif as:-

signor to Bert M. Morris (30., Los Angeles,

Calif., a firm Application June "10, 1944, Serial No. 539,615

9 Claims. (01. 120-96) My invention relates to power operated pencil Sharpeners of that character having rotary sharpening elements between which the end of a pencil isreceivedso as to be sharpened when the elements are driven.

A-n objectof the invention is to provide an improved means for creating a draft of air to re move the cuttings from the pencil. This is accomplishedby employing a blower having a rotor which carries the pencil sharpener; The invention provides a tube coaxial with the rotor for the double purpose of receiving that pencil and admitting air to the blower.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the likelihood that the pencil cuttings will get into pinions employed for driving the cutting elements. This is accomplished by providing the rotor atits inlet end, with a head, and by arranging the cutter pinions on the inlet side of the head, with the cutter elements rotatably mounted in the rotor in the opposite side of the head. I

A still further purpose of my invention is the provision of a pencilsharpener in which-the component parts are so constructedand arranged as to facilitate assembly and disassembly thereof,

andparticularly 'the sharpening elements which are readily removable to resharpen or topermitsubstitution of new elements. 7 I p I will describe only one form of electric pencil sharpener embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing F g. 1 is a view showing in vertical section one form of electric pencil sharpener embodying my invention with a pencil in sharpening position therein.

Fig. 2 is a plane section-taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3'-3 of Fig; 1. I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line .4 4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the motor control switch in advanced position as distinguished from the retracted position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a'view same asFig. 5 but with the switch intheposition shown in Fig. 1 and one of the contacts of the switchlatched in open position.-

Referring specifically to the drawing, my invention'in this particular embodiment comprises a base plate I5 fixed to which and-rising there I from is a stator frameIIB having. an upper wall n" from which depend many spaced bearings I8 and I9. Bearing I9 is a part of theframe l6 and is vertically alined with the bearin [8 but spaced therefrom. Bearing I9 is provided with a' later-a1 extension 2!. The top wall. l1 constitutes the bottomwa'll of a generally circular casing 22 which maybe formed integral withthe frame 16, such casing being constructed'to providea tan gential discharge opening 23 (Fig. 4) bounded by a collar 24. The upper end of the casing 12 is closed by a cover 25 detachably secured thereto by screws 2511.. Cover 25 constitutes part of a casting having a' tubular pencil guide 26 which opens into the rotor C'and a block 21. the precise construction ofwhich'will be described herein} after. The guide 26' interiorly is formed with grooves 26ato allow" airto be'drawn into the device when a". pencil is within the g'uide as will be later described. Rot'atively mounted thev casing 22'is a cage designated'genrallyat-C a'nd comprising a lower head ZB'an'dan upper head 29 rigidly connected to each other by an annular series of impeller blades 301 The lower. head 28 which is of disk form has a rising projection or integral boss? 3| bored to rotatively receive the lower ends of a pair of upwardly divergnt shafts 32. v

The shafts 3 2 at their upper ends are rotatahl y.

a gear 35'formed'in the recessed portionof the cover 25'. On each shaft 32 is ai pencil sharpening element 311. having peripheral blades 39 of spiral form. Each'element 1 1s fi xed to the respective' shaft 32f0r rotation therewith by the provision of a screw threadedfshaft portion 40; which thi'ea'dedlyehgages' within the upper end of the element 31. v

The cagewall IT serves asa step bearing or thrust bearing-for" the cage (L the undersideof head 28 'ha;ving"a bearing shoilldr flG rotatably: supported'by the upper'fa'ce" of the stator wall IT. The, lower head 28 is formed: integral with a shaft 4| that extends'downwardly through the bearings 18 and IS. .A worm gear. 42 islgeyed to,

shaft 4| at a point'b'etween the bearings [8 and on theiendof' the shaft 44 of theelectric motor 45. ,Themotor is suitably secured to the base plate [5. a I p The arrangementof the sharpening elements 37 by virtue of the angular mounting of the shafts 32', issuchas'toprovid'e an intervening:

I and with guide 26.

V 3 guide 26 and into the gap between the cutter elements 39, the upper head 29 is formed with a coaxial flanged opening 46 aligned with the gap The height of flange 46 is substantially the same as that of the pinions 34 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. At the perimeter of the head 29 is a depending collar 41 from th lower edge of which the impeller blades 30 depend. This collar 41 is relatively wide so as to cover the upper portions of the sharpening elements 31. The upper head 29 and its depending collar 47 comprise a hood over the upper ends of the sharpening elements 37, I

the pinions 34 being located outside of this hood, that is on the opposite side of head 29, whereby head 29 shields the pinions 34 from the pencil shavings. The draft of air passing from the inlet tube 26 towards the outlet 23, passes the pinions 3 and ring gear 35 before picking up the pencil cuttings, whereby the pencil cuttings are blown away from, not towards, the pinions 34 and ring gear 35.

The impeller blades 56 may be tapered in width from top to bottom, and disposed at such an angle with respect to the peripheries of the heads 28 and 29 as to impel air .and the pencil shavings outwardly of the opening 23 when th cage C is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4.

For starting and stopping the motor 45 a control switch designated generally at S, is provided, which includes an operating member 48, in the form of a bar having an inner end rounded on its upper edge as at 49, and concaved as at 55 (Fig. 2) to conform generally to the cross sectional contour of the pencil.

' The block 21 is formed with a slot 5|, the inner end of which is in communication with the pencil guide 26. The switch operating member 48 is slidable in the slot 5| to occupy an advanced position as shown in Fig. 5, wherein its rounded and concave end is extended into the guid tube 26, so that when a pencil is inserted into the tube the member 48 will be moved to the retracted position shown in Fig. 1 to allow the pencil to be extended between the sharpening elements 3'! and to hold the pencil against rotation in the tube.

The block 27 is provided with a lateral extension 52 which is so bifurcated as to form an extension of the slot 5|. This extension also includes upper and lower cross bars 53 and 54 rigidly connecting the bifurcated portions adjacent their outer ends. These bars serve to confine the member 48 between the arms of the extension in its reciprocating movements. At their outer ends the bifurcated portions are connected by a strap 55 secured thereto by screws 56. This strap forms an abutment or confining element for a coiled expansible spring 5'! disposed within a pocket 58 in the outer end of the bar 48. This spring serves to urge th bar 48 inwardly to its advanced position. 1

The control switch S embodies three contacts 56, 66, andfil. The contact 59 may be in the form of a stick of carbon secured in a transverse opening in the bar 48 by an insulating sleeve 62 so that its opposite ends project from opposite edges of the bar. The contact 60 is in the form of a spring secured at one end to a binding post 63 on the top of a block 2?, with its other end positioned to engage the upper end of the contact 53 when the bar isv in retracted position. The contact 6| is likewisein the form of a stick of carbon and is secured'in a support 64 of suitable 4 insulating material positioned at the lower side of the bar 48 so that the upper end of the contact will engag the lower edge of the contact 59 when the bar 48 is in retracted position.

From the aforedescribed arrangement of the three contacts of the switch S, it will be clear that the contact 59 in th advanced position of the bar 48 disengages the contacts 66 and 5|, but that in the retracted position of the bar the contact 59 is moved into engagement with both of the contacts 60 and 6| t close the switch. By means of conductors 65 and 56 connected to the motor 45, to the respective contacts 60 and 6| and to a suitable source of current (not shown) current may be supplied to the motor 65 when the switch is closed as aforedescribed to energize the motor and operate the sharpener.

Embodied in my sharpener is means for regulating the sharpening action for the elements 37 so as to sharpen a pencil to a point of predetermined length, and this means is utilized. to actuate a mechanism for opening the switch S to discontinue operation of the sharpening elements immediately upon the pencil being sharpened to that predetermined length.

The regulating means comprises a rod 61 movable axially within the shaft 4|, such shaft being formed with a bore 58 to receive the rod. The lower end of the rod is provided with a head 69 disposed at the lower end of the shaft 4| and engageable with a cross arm 10. A cam H fixed to a shaft 12 mounted in ears 13 and provided at its outer end with a crank 14, is rotatable to adjust the arm 10 vertically. The arm 70 forms an abutment or stop for th rod 61, and through vertical adjustment of the arm the vertical position of the rod can be correspondingly adjusted to vary the degree of extension of the upper end thereof upwardly between the sharpening e1ements 31. v

The mechanism for opening the switch S through the pencil sharpening regulating means comprises, in the present instance, the arm Ill pivotally connected as at '15 to the lower end of avertical rod 16 slidable in the extension 2| and confined thereon-by a strap secured in place by a screw 13. A'guide bracket 19 is secured to the upper part of the casing 22 andthrough which the rod 16 also slides to coact with the extension in properly supporting the rod for vertical axial movement.

The upper end of the rod 16 carries the contact support 64 so that by axial movement of the rod the contact 6| can be moved into and out of engagement with the contact 5% when the bar 48 is in retracted position. The rod 16 is urged upwardly to cause the contact 6| to engage the contact 59, by a spring secured to the base plate |5 by a screw 8|. The spring engages one end of the cross arm 70- so as to elevate the rod 16 through the pivotal connection 15. Thus irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the arm 10 by the cam H the contact 6| is alwaysurged to a position in which it is engaged by the contact 59 upon movement of the bar 48 to retracted position.

For latching the contact 6| in lowered or open position a latch 82 is pivoted as at 83 in a recess 84 of the block 21, to engage a keeper 85 fixed on the upper end of the rod 16, and urged toward the keeper 85 by a spring 86 at the back of the latch. The location of the keeper in the elevated position of the rod 16 is such that it cannot have latching engagementvwith the keeper but merely contacts therewith. However, when the rod 16 is lowered the spring; 85 functionsto cause the latch to engage; the keeper and: hold the contact 61- in open: position, The latch 82. is; movable to disengage.

shown-,in.Fig. 5' where; it; is retained by-the bar,

under'urgi-ng of the spring 51.

' The: opening 23 ofv thecasing: 2-2 is spanned by an air filtering, member 88 which may be in the form of a bag of porous fabric and. of such size that ,it depends, from the casing to form a storage: section forthe 'pencil shavings and lead. This bag; 88 is removably, secured in place on the casingby a ring orband 99 seated within a groove 9U:f;orme d;in the casing andpartly in the cover 25.

Enclosing: all, parts. of the sharpener including the motor 45 is a housing or cover H which is removably' secured to, the base plate 15. This housing; is formed atone side with a door 9! removably' secured in place: by a latch 92. at the top and a lip 93v at the bottom. The door 9! is formed with perforations 94 as illustrated in order to allow free. discharge of. air from the casing opening 23 to atmosphere.

As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 12 for the adjusting cam ll extends outwardly through the housing H with the crank 14 fixed to the projecting end of the shaft and having a pin 95 engaging in any one of a series of openings 96 in the housing wall to secure the crank in any position of adjust ment.

The operation of the sharpener is as follows:

To sharpen a pencil (indicated at P in Fig. 1) it is extended into the tube 26 and between the sharpening elements 31. Under such inserting movement of the pencil the bar 48 is forced from the advanced position shown in Fig. 5 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the bar closes the switch S by bringing the contacts 59, 50, and (it into engagement with each other thereby supplying current to the motor 45, With the motor so energized the shaft 44 is actuated to drive the shaft 4| through the worm 43 and the gear 42, thereby setting the cage C and the elements 3'! into rotation in a clockwise direction as when viewed in Fig. 4.

Under such rotational movement of the elements 3! the pinions 34 being in mesh with th ring gear 35 produce rotation of the elements about their own axes as they revolve bodily. With the pencil between the elements 31, the resultant epicyclical movement of the elements operates to initiate a sharpening action on the pencil. As this action proceeds the pencil moves downwardly until the point engages the upper end of the rod 61 when the rod is forced downwardly to depress the arm l9 against the tension of the spring 80. Under this movement of the arm 79 the rod 16 is pulled downwardly to move the contact 6| away from the contact 59 (Fig. 6), thereby opening the switch S and thus discontinuing operation of the sharpening elements.

4 By the time the rod 61 has been depressed to open the switch sharpening of the pencil has been completed, and thus stopping of the motor and the parts driven thereby occurs simultaneously with completion of the sharpening operation. Manifestly, this conserves current, mini- .mizes wear of the moving parts, and insures sharpening of the pencil to a predetermined point lengthi'n.accordance with an adjustmehtof the:

Duringthe; afored'escribed. sharpening opera-.- tion' the casing 22lfunctions as the stator and the cage C as therotor-oi an air blower or pump, the impeller blades-st; operating to draw air into the stator along the rotor axis and through the grooves26ct in the tube 2-6, past ring gear and pinion's 34' over the top. head 29 of rotor cage 0, and through opening 46. between cutters 39- if the pencil. issmall enough to not fill opening 46 or if the'penci'l is'removed and around the sharpening elements31, and finally discharging it to atmosphere through the lateral outlet 23, the bag 88, and the openings 94 in the door 9|. The head 29 andthecollar 41 functiontoprevent the pencil shavings andsleadparticles from being blown upwardly'rontothe'pinions 34 and the gear 35, the

airdraft being'lateral of the rotor C towardsthe lateral: outlet 23.. By virtue of this course of air as generated by the blower, all pencil shavings and lea'd particlesresultant of the sharpening operation, are picked up and deposited in the bag- 88, and thus the sharpening elements as well as all other parts within the casing 22 are kept clean and clear of the pencil deposits to prevent clogging; and insure proper operation. of the device at all times.

To reset the parts of the sharpener for a succeeding sharpening operation, the only manual requisite is to remove the sharpened pencil from the tube 26, when the spring 51 returns the bar 48 to advanced position, thus moving the contact 59 out of engagement with the contact 69, and the latch 82 off of the keeper 83 to permit the contact 6| to rise to its original position under the action of the spring 89. Manifestly, the spring 89 also restores th armm to its original vertical position of adjustment as determined by the cam H, and with it the rod 61.

My invention is also characterized structurally without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pencil sharpener; an air blower having a rotor; sharpening elements carried by said rotor; and an air inlet tube leading into said rotor and through which a pencil may be extended between said elements for sharpening.

2. A pencil sharpener comprising a stator having a tangential air outlet in the periphery thereof, and an axial air inlet, said inlet serving as a pencil guide; a bladed rotor revoluble in said stator coaxially with said inlet; and sharpening elements carried by said rotor and arranged angularly to the axis of said rotor to permit a pencil to be extended therebetween for sharpening through said air inlet. I

3. A pencil sharpener, comprising: a station ary casing having an open top; a removable cover '7 cover; a driven shaft journaled in the bottom of said casing; a cage within said casing fixed to said shaft; tool shafts journaled in and removable from the top of said cage; pinions on the upper ends of said tool shafts and meshing with said ring gear; and upwardly diverging sharpening elements detachalbly secured to said tool shafts, the top of said cage having a pencil opening in alignment with said tube and leading between said sharpening elements.

4. A pencil sharpener as embodied in claim 3, wherein impeller blades are fixed to said cage in a. circular series about said sharpening elements; and said casing having an air inlet and a tangential outlet.

5. A pencil sharpener according to claim 3 wherein said pinions are mounted on said tool shafts above the top of said cage, said sharpening elements being below the top of said cage, said casing having an air inlet and a combined air and pencil cuttings outlet, and fan means between said inlet and outlet, said ring gear and pinions being arranged between said sharpening elements and said inlet.

6. A pencil sharpener comprising a blower having a stator and rotor, said stator having an air inlet and said stator having a lateral outlet, said stator having a coaxial pencil guide and said rotor having an end wall having a cooperating coaxial pencil guide opening, pencil sharpening elements in said rotor inclined to the rotor axis, gearing coupling said sharpening elements to said stator, and fan blades on said rotor around said sharpening elements.

7. A pencil sharpener comprising a blower having a stator, a rotor, an inlet and an outlet, said rotor comprising a fan cage having heads at its opposite ends and a circular array of axially extending fan blades secured at their opposite ends to said heads, pencil sharpening means inside of said cage, and pencil guiding means for guiding a pencil into said cage in operative relation to said pencil sharpening means.

8. A pencil sharpener according to claim 7 ROBERT B. FLEMING. 

